Carl Beck

I might have gone - had I known about it a couple weeks ago... Carl B.

The Hemmings site admin said he would pass Will and my comments on to the author. So far haven't heard from him. Will let you know if I do... FWIW, Carl B.

They were semi-gloss Black.. but many had Blue overspray on them. FWIW, Carl B.

That is really a hard color / finish to get a good picture of. I'd try photographing it on an over-cast day with indirect sunlight. I think one would have to see it in person to decide on the effect. I wonder how you care for it - can that finish be protected with wax/polish without becoming too shinny? I'll bet you can't even see it in the dark... don't park behind anyone, or where anyone would back-up toward it.... Looks like your doing a good job, keep at it... FWIW, Carl B.

Looks great Gus, did you find a place to have it boiled out, or did you just flush it out yourself? Keep the pictures coming... FWIW, Carl B.

Did you actually take the entire assembly off the intake manifold? Or did you disassemble the carb, with the carb body still attached to the intake? Are you sure you have the float level set correctly? Your problem would seem to be related to your linkage, or choke cables.... If you can lift the vacuum pistons and they fall back into place - they should be fine. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Kats: See image below... FWIW, Carl B.

I posted the following to the Hemmings Forum for their Sports & Exotic Car Magazine. http://forums.hemmings.com/viewforum.php?f=6 - - - - - - - - - To bad Jeff Koch had to repeat the same old "Goertz Myth" related to the design and development of the Datsun 240-Z. Worse yet, he failed to give any mention of the design team headed by Mr. Matsuo that actually did design the car. So I will. Mr. Teiichi Hara, Manager Nissan Design and Development Mr. Kazumi Yotsurnoto, Manager, Passenger Car Styling Section Mr. Yoshihiko Matsuo, Chief of Design, Styling Studio #4 Mr. Akio Yoshida, Assistant Designer (Exterior Design) Mr. Sue Chiba (Interior Design) Mr. Eiichi Oiwa and Mr. Kiichi Nishikawa (Styling Studio Assistants) Mr. Hidemi Kamahara and Mr. Tsuneo Benitani, Design Engineers (engineering everything under the skin). The "Goertz Myth" was started by the American Automotive Press, then carried on by the Authors of the first few books written on the subject of the Z Car. It has been repeated over and over by writers that failed to do any basic research of their own. Koch writes: "As far back as 1963, Albrecht Goertz was a design consultant with Nissan; his Fairlady-based Silvia coupe is considered a classic in Japan, but he also worked on a GT car that was to be powered with a Yamaha engine. When the engine wasn't what Nissan had hoped for, the project stopped, and Goertz left - but his styling study remained." It is true that Goertz did get a contract for "Design Consulting" with Nissan in 1963. However hiring a Design Consultant is quite different than hiring a Designer. As a Design Consultant Goertz did work with the Designers at Nissan to improve their Design Process, Design Tools and Design Techniques and in that regard he seems to have done good work. Also true that he refined the styling already done at Nissan for the Silvia body. I don't know about the Silvia being considered a "Classic" in Japan, but the article was supposed to be about Nissan's 50 Years in America, and the Silvia was a huge flop here. Shown only at the New York Auto Show, it was pulled off the show circuit and sent back to Japan, because the American reaction to it was so negative. Koch should have continued to quote Mr. Sharpe, who said the Silvia was too small and cramped for Americans and lacked the HP necessary to survive on American Highways. The silvia was a huge flop in the Sales Department even in Japan, with fewer than 600 units sold over several years of production. The car Goertz left behind at Nissan was the Nissan 2000GT. The result of a Joint Project between Nissan and Yamaha Design. Nissan had their 2000GT design already started when Goertz joined the team. Yamaha also had their A-550X prototype, which they continued to develop after the Joint Nissan/Yamaha effort was brought to an end. The Nissan 2000GT should not be confused with the Yamaha A-550X. The A-550X was actually a pretty good looking GT, but kept within Yamaha's design facilities. Looking at the Goertz inspired Nissan 2000GT today, it is hard to imagine how it could have evolved into anything other than perhaps another flop. Part 63 Corvette Sting Ray and part Triumph GT-6 it bore little, if any resemblance to the Z Car designed years later within Nissan's Sports Car Styling Studio. Here - http://zhome.com/History/Truth/All6SideBySide.jpg You can see both the initial clay model (center left) and the metal prototype (lower left) in the two lower left frames, that Mr. Goertz left behind at Nissan. Both were developed as 4 cylinder cars, based on the chassis of the older Datsun roadster. In terms of styling, you can see the influence provided by the Triumph GT-6 and the 63 Corvette Sting Ray... none of which shows up in the Datsun 240-Z. The Datsun 240-Z bore far more rresemblance to the 67 Ferrari 275GT. Koch ends his article by stating; "And Goertz? His part in the story was largely unacknowledged within Nissan until 1980, when they finally issued him a letter of credit for the concept (if not the design) of the Z." This is utter nonsense. Had Koch bothered to read the letter from Nissan to Goertz he would have realized that Nissan maintained its position that the design of the Datsun 240-Z was the work of its own design team. What Nissan did credit Goertz with was "his fine work" - as a design consultant working within Nissan's design departments on tools, technique and process improvements. You can read the complete text of the letter at: http://zhome.com/History/Truth/NissanStatement.htm A decade after the "Goertz Myth" was started, Mr. Matsuo wrote the story of how the Z Car was designed, and offered proof in terms of original design sketches, photographs of the design alternatives considered, the design selected for advancement and the physical evolution of that design. Goertz on the other hand wrote and published his own autobiography, in which he too offered proof in terms of photographs of the initial drawings, clay models and design development OF THE BMW 507!! covering several pages ..... but nothing - nada - zip - in terms of "his" design efforts related to a Sports/GT at Nissan. That is because he had nothing to do with the design of the Datsun 240-Z, and his own autobiography shows that all too clearly. The above is of course my own conclusion - but one based on my own extensive research efforts, not simply the regurgitation of speculation from the past and poorly researched rumor. FWIW, Carl Carl Beck, President Internet Z Car Club Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Really SAD.... really sad... FWIW, Carl B.

I think you got a pretty nice 240-Z with an interesting history.... A true Classic has no age, it is of timeless beauty. enjoy the ride... Carl B.

Great pictures - thanks for sharing... There is nothing better than a road trip in a Z, with your girlfriend! It doesn't get any better than that.... FWIW, Carl B.

Most local shows will allow 3 or 4 non-stock items, in the Stock Class. Of course you will loose a few points for them. But it is the fun of sharing the car with the Z Car Community that makes Car Shows fun... FWIW, Carl B.

Rick: What size wheels/tires are you running? Stock transmission and rear end? (5spd with the 3.9??) FWIW, Carl

If your happy - I'm happy. If it works it works! Great improvement to the overall looks of the car too! With today's devaluated US Dollar the price seems reasonable as well. FWIW, Carl B.

If it's close to as described/as pictured - it is a bargain at the Buy-It-Now... rare color too. 2 used Fenders painted to match $250.00 each = $500.00 2 Headlight Nacelles painted to match = $125 each = $250.00 1 hood $225.00 2 Spare original color matched seats, $150.00 Brand new factory floor mats New Nissan factory pedal pads. Rebuilt 5spd. $450.00 to rebuild + $250.00 good used tranny = $700.00 $1825.00 to $2K in spares... $16,500.00 - $2K = $14,500.00 for the car... remember the green Z that the dealer had here in Clearwater that sold for $13,500.00?... it wasn't even close... On the other hand - the 2 Green A/T's that just sold are looking better and better... Just shows you the range - but a 72 in that condition is well worth $16,500.00 today - I also agree that if you started with the typical $6K example - you couldn't get close to this for less than another $12K plus two years of work. FWIW, Carl B. BTW - that color really needs a bright set of mag's to set it off...

That is correct. I've never seen a Datsun 240-Z with a gasket between the headlight nacelle and the fender, and I've been looking since March of 1970. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi slo929: I live in Florida - I eliminated the vapor recovery system. I really didn't need the gasoline vapors leaking into the cabin. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19034&page=2 Note the 90 degree bend made with copper plumbing fittings - very important to do. If you don't the rubber hose will kink... and you won't be able to fill the upper part of the tank. Also important to replace the plastic connector between the vent line and fuel filler with a copper tube. The plastic cracks with age. A couple of diagrams from an earlier discussion - that I can't seem to find right now, are below FYI. This keeps the air/vapor return from the front of the car to the tank. FWIW, Carl. B

The speedo gear is matched to the rear-end gearing. So just use the speedo gear out of your stock 4spd. You may have to swap the speedo gear carrier... using the gear itself from your original 4spd., but put in the ZX speedo gear carrier. As I recall there is a "pin" that holds the speedo gear in the speedo gear carrier. (the carrier bolts into the transmission - and speedo gear is inside the carrier). If you have changed the rear gear ratio - then you need a speedo gear to match it. FWIW, Carl B.

Kim? in Idaho

Mally002 The chrome extensions on your twin tailpipes - look like they are only screwed on - and they are open in the back. So it is possible that some of the exhaust gases are being let out behind the chrome extensions.. between the chrome extensions and the actual tail pipe. Take the chrome tips off - and show me a picture of where the actual tail pipes end. There are "muffler sealers" that most muffler shops have on hand - they are about like modeling clay.. or plumbers putty. Try sealing the back of the chrome extensions to the tail pipe inside them.. and see if that helps. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Rob: After the stash of "as new" copies were sold off - I don't believe the price ever got much above the $65.00 range. I haven't seen any lately on E-Bay, but I'd have to guess that the initial demand from collectors had pretty much been satisfied. For the most part they seem to be selling in the $35.00 to $65.00 range depending on condition - and the luck of the draw. Nonetheless it is a pretty neat book for any Z Car Related Library. FWIW, Carl B.

If you are not going to worry about maintaining a "Stock" appearance, then there is no reason to pay the additional money for OEM replacements in most cases. Call a few of your local Auto Parts Stores - and find the one that carries metric size fuel and vacuum hoses. You can use US standard sizes, but they will not fit as well as the originally used metric sizes. I suggest taking a sample of the various sizes from the car to the Parts Store with you. Rubber Brake lines can also be purchased in the aftermarket - but you have to be careful that they are the correct type -so take an old line with you when you pick them up and compare fittings. There are a few places where Factory Hoses make sense. The two vacuum lines from the Brake Vacuum Booster to the manifold are a couple of examples. They have several formed 90+ degree curves... (but usually don't need to be replaced). The fuel lines on the bottom of the S.U.'s are another example - they are best replaced with a high grade vinyl tubing if necessary. Good luck with the car - sounds like it is well worth saving given its history with your family. FWIW, Carl B.

No - it isn't worth fixing. It's a parts car at best. There are lots of 280ZX's with solid bodies, and they are still very reasonably priced. You may have to take a short trip outside VA, but it would be well worth your time and money. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: I think the first thing to say is; Make No Attempt To Turn The Engine Over with a starting battery - Until you have first dropped the fuel tank and cleaned it out. Plus cleaning the hard fuel lines out and replacing all the high pressure rubber hoses. Once that is done - and after you have turned the engine over by hand (pulled the plugs, and put a few ounces of ATF down the cylinder bores); the dumped to old oil and put fresh oil and filters in place, and lubricated the cam/rockers... Add about 5 gallons of fresh gasoline, plus some fuel injector cleaner.... and start it up. With any luck, the fuel injectors will not be stuck with varnish... and the fresh fuel and injector cleaner will clear them out if they are working at all. Trying to crank a car that been sitting for years without doing the above - almost always results in varnish from the tank, being sucked into the lines and then into the injectors. The varnis is like jello.. it can be sucked though the fuel filter, because while it is thick and sticky... it usually doesn't have large particles that the filter will catch and hold. Past that point - you'll need to change all the high pressure rubber fuel lines... they decay with age and the higher pressures of the FI system will cause them to burst unexpectedly.. .not a good thing. I suggest doing one thing at a time when it comes to replacing items - - if you do too many things at one time - it's hard to figure out what if anything you did wrong - or left disconnected etc... FWIW, Carl B.

Buyer of the First one most likely got a pretty good deal... If he/she is back East - and they have it shipped inclosed -add $1500.00 to $1800.00 for transport. FWIW, Carl B.